The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Director of EHS (L6) in a Global Organisation
5-8 years at Director levelSkills to master
- Mastering enterprise-wide EHS programme management, leading large multi-functional teams, managing significant budgets, and developing strong relationships with executive leadership and external regulators. Proving your ability to influence business strategy with EHS insights.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistent achievement of significant reductions in enterprise-wide incident rates and environmental non-conformances.
- Successful leadership of major EHS transformation projects (e.g., global management system implementation).
- Demonstrated ability to present complex EHS issues clearly and persuasively to executive committees.
- Proven capability to manage and develop a diverse team of EHS professionals across different regions.
- Strong external reputation within the EHS industry.
- 2
Head of Sustainability / ESG (L6) with strong EHS background
5-7 years at Head of Sustainability levelSkills to master
- Developing deep expertise in ESG reporting frameworks (TCFD, SASB, GRI), climate risk assessment, circular economy principles, and investor relations. This involves translating EHS performance into broader sustainability narratives that resonate with financial markets.
You're ready to move on when
- Successful development and implementation of a comprehensive corporate sustainability strategy.
- Proven experience in leading the company's ESG reporting and achieving positive ratings from external agencies.
- Strong relationships with investor relations and finance teams, demonstrating ability to link ESG to financial performance.
- Experience engaging with external stakeholders (investors, NGOs) on sustainability topics.
- A clear understanding of the interplay between EHS and broader sustainability goals.